Canon 5DS R vs Fujifilm X-E3

The Canon EOS 5DS R and the Fujifilm X-E3 are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively,
in February 2015 and September 2017. The 5DS R is a DSLR, while the X-E3 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on a full frame (5DS R) and an APS-C (X-E3) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 50.3 megapixels, whereas the Fujifilm provides 24 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS 5DS R and the
Fujifilm X-E3? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors,
their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison: Canon 5DS R vs Fujifilm X-E3

The physical size and weight of the Canon 5DS R and the Fujifilm X-E3 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The X-E3 can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the 5DS R is
only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size,
the Fujifilm X-E3 is considerably smaller (49 percent) than the Canon 5DS R. Moreover, the X-E3 is substantially lighter (64 percent) than the 5DS R. It is worth mentioning in this context that the 5DS R is splash and dust resistant,
while the X-E3 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses
that both of these cameras require. A larger imaging sensor will tend to go along with bigger and heavier lenses, although exceptions exist.
You can compare the optics available for the two cameras in the Canon EF Lens Catalog (5DS R) and the Fujinon X Lens Catalog (X-E3). Mirrorless cameras, such as the X-E3, have moreover the advantage that they can use many lenses from other systems via adapters, as they have a relatively short flange to focal plane distance.

Concerning battery life, the 5DS R gets 700 shots out of its LP-E6 battery,
while the X-E3 can take 350 images on a single charge of its NP-W126S power pack. The power pack in the X-E3 can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, just click on the right or left
arrow next to the camera that you would like to inspect. Alternatively, you can also use the CAM-parator to
select your camera combination among a larger number of options.

Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The X-E3 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 76 percent) than the 5DS R, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison: Canon 5DS R vs Fujifilm X-E3

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon 5DS R features a full frame sensor and the Fujifilm X-E3
an APS-C sensor. The sensor area in the X-E3 is 57 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.0 and 1.5. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors.

With 50.3MP, the 5DS R offers a higher
resolution than the X-E3 (24MP), but the 5DS R nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of
4.14μm versus 3.92μm for the X-E3) due to its larger sensor. However, the X-E3 is a much more recent model (by 2 years and 7 months) than the 5DS R, and its sensor
will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixels. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.

The X-E3 has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Canon EOS 5DS R has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 6400, which can be extended to ISO 50-12800.
The corresponding ISO settings for the Fujifilm X-E3 are ISO 200 to ISO 12800, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-51200.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Sensor Characteristics

Camera Model

Sensor Class

Resolution (MP)

Horiz. Pixels

Vert. Pixels

Video Format

DXO Portrait

DXO Landscape

DXO Sports

DXO Overall

Camera Model

Canon 5DS R»

Full Frame

50.3

8688

5792

1080/30p

24.6

12.4

2308

86

Canon 5DS R

Fujifilm X-E3«

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

4K/30p

-

-

-

-

Fujifilm X-E3

Canon 1D X Mark II«»

Full Frame

20.0

5472

3648

4K/60p

24.1

13.5

3207

88

Canon 1D X Mark II

Canon 5D Mark IV«»

Full Frame

30.1

6720

4480

4K/30p

24.8

13.6

2995

91

Canon 5D Mark IV

Canon 5DS«»

Full Frame

50.3

8688

5792

1080/30p

24.7

12.4

2381

87

Canon 5DS

Canon 5D Mark III«»

Full Frame

22.1

5760

3840

1080/30p

24.0

11.7

2293

81

Canon 5D Mark III

Canon 6D«»

Full Frame

20.0

5472

3648

1080/30p

23.8

12.1

2340

82

Canon 6D

Canon 5D Mark II«»

Full Frame

21.0

5616

3744

1080/30p

23.7

11.9

1815

79

Canon 5D Mark II

Canon 5D«»

Full Frame

12.7

4368

2912

-

22.9

11.1

1368

71

Canon 5D

Fujifilm X-T30«»

APS-C

26.0

6240

4160

4K/30p

-

-

-

-

Fujifilm X-T30

Fujifilm X-T20«»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

4K/30p

-

-

-

-

Fujifilm X-T20

Fujifilm X-A3«»

APS-C

24.0

6000

4000

1080/60p

-

-

-

-

Fujifilm X-A3

Fujifilm X-E2S«»

APS-C

16.0

4896

3264

1080/60p

-

-

-

-

Fujifilm X-E2S

Fujifilm X-E2«»

APS-C

16.0

4896

3264

1080/60p

-

-

-

-

Fujifilm X-E2

Nikon D850«»

Full Frame

45.4

8256

5504

4K/30p

26.4

14.8

2660

100

Nikon D850

Nikon D810«»

Full Frame

36.2

7360

4912

1080/60p

25.7

14.8

2853

97

Nikon D810

Sony A99 II«»

Full Frame

42.2

7952

5304

4K/30p

25.4

13.4

2317

92

Sony A99 II

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the X-E3 provides a better video resolution than the 5DS R. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the Canon is limited to 1080/30p.

Feature comparison: Canon 5DS R vs Fujifilm X-E3

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the X-E3 has an electronic viewfinder (2360k dots), while the 5DS R has an optical one.
Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information
into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (100%), but
the viewfinder of the 5DS R has a higher magnification than the one of the X-E3 (0.71x vs 0.41x),
so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Canon 5DS R and Fujifilm X-E3 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

Core Features

Camera Model

Viewfinder (Type or '000 dots)

Control Panel (yes/no)

LCD Size (inch)

LCD Resolution ('000 dots)

LCD Attach- ment

Touch Screen (yes/no)

Mech Shutter Speed

Shutter Flaps (1/sec)

Built-in Flash (yes/no)

Built-in Image Stab

Camera Model

Canon 5DS R»

optical

Y

3.2

1040

fixed

n

1/8000s

5.0

n

n

Canon 5DS R

Fujifilm X-E3«

2360

n

3.0

1040

fixed

Y

1/4000s

8.0

n

n

Fujifilm X-E3

Canon 1D X Mark II«»

optical

Y

3.2

1620

fixed

Y

1/8000s

16.0

n

n

Canon 1D X Mark II

Canon 5D Mark IV«»

optical

Y

3.2

1620

fixed

Y

1/8000s

7.0

n

n

Canon 5D Mark IV

Canon 5DS«»

optical

Y

3.2

1040

fixed

n

1/8000s

5.0

n

n

Canon 5DS

Canon 5D Mark III«»

optical

Y

3.2

1040

fixed

n

1/8000s

6.0

n

n

Canon 5D Mark III

Canon 6D«»

optical

Y

3.0

1040

fixed

n

1/4000s

4.5

n

n

Canon 6D

Canon 5D Mark II«»

optical

Y

3.0

920

fixed

n

1/8000s

3.9

n

n

Canon 5D Mark II

Canon 5D«»

optical

Y

2.5

230

fixed

n

1/8000s

3.0

n

n

Canon 5D

Fujifilm X-T30«»

2360

n

3.0

1040

tilting

Y

1/4000s

8.0

Y

n

Fujifilm X-T30

Fujifilm X-T20«»

2360

n

3.0

1040

tilting

Y

1/4000s

8.0

Y

n

Fujifilm X-T20

Fujifilm X-A3«»

-

n

3.0

1040

tilting

Y

1/4000s

6.0

Y

n

Fujifilm X-A3

Fujifilm X-E2S«»

2360

n

3.0

1040

fixed

n

1/4000s

7.0

Y

n

Fujifilm X-E2S

Fujifilm X-E2«»

2360

n

3.0

1040

fixed

n

1/4000s

7.0

Y

n

Fujifilm X-E2

Nikon D850«»

optical

Y

3.2

2359

tilting

Y

1/8000s

9.0

n

n

Nikon D850

Nikon D810«»

optical

Y

3.2

1229

fixed

n

1/8000s

5.0

Y

n

Nikon D810

Sony A99 II«»

2400

Y

3.0

1229

full-flex

n

1/8000s

12.0

n

Y

Sony A99 II

One feature that is present on the 5DS R, but is missing on the X-E3 is a top-level LCD.
While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while
others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the X-E3 is one of those camera that have an additional
electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or
shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Canon 5DS R and the Fujifilm X-E3 both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to
capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The 5DS R writes its imaging data to Compact Flash or SDXC cards, while the X-E3 uses SDXC cards. The 5DS R features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the X-E3
only has one slot. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

Connectivity comparison: Canon 5DS R vs Fujifilm X-E3

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS 5DS R and Fujifilm X-E3 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

Camera Model

Hotshoe Port

Internal Microphone

Internal Speaker

Microphone Port

Headphone Port

HDMI Port

USB Type

WiFi Support

NFC Support

Bluetooth Support

Camera Model

Canon 5DS R»

Y

mono

mono

Y

-

mini

3.0

-

-

-

Canon 5DS R

Fujifilm X-E3«

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

Y

Fujifilm X-E3

Canon 1D X Mark II«»

Y

mono

mono

Y

Y

mini

3.0

-

-

-

Canon 1D X Mark II

Canon 5D Mark IV«»

Y

mono

mono

Y

Y

mini

3.0

Y

Y

-

Canon 5D Mark IV

Canon 5DS«»

Y

mono

mono

Y

-

mini

3.0

-

-

-

Canon 5DS

Canon 5D Mark III«»

Y

mono

mono

Y

Y

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Canon 5D Mark III

Canon 6D«»

Y

mono

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

Y

-

-

Canon 6D

Canon 5D Mark II«»

Y

mono

mono

Y

-

mini

2.0

-

-

-

Canon 5D Mark II

Canon 5D«»

Y

-

-

-

-

-

2.0

-

-

-

Canon 5D

Fujifilm X-T30«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

micro

3.1

Y

-

Y

Fujifilm X-T30

Fujifilm X-T20«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

-

Fujifilm X-T20

Fujifilm X-A3«»

Y

stereo

mono

-

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

-

Fujifilm X-A3

Fujifilm X-E2S«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

-

Fujifilm X-E2S

Fujifilm X-E2«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

-

micro

2.0

Y

-

-

Fujifilm X-E2

Nikon D850«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

mini

3.0

Y

Y

Y

Nikon D850

Nikon D810«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

mini

3.0

Y

-

-

Nikon D810

Sony A99 II«»

Y

stereo

mono

Y

Y

micro

2.0

Y

Y

Y

Sony A99 II

It is notable that the X-E3 offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data
to an off-camera location. In contrast, the 5DS R does not offer wifi capability.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Canon 5DS R (unlike the X-E3) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights
can be controlled by the camera.

Both the 5DS R and the X-E3 are recent models that are part of the current product line-up. The X-E3 replaced the earlier Fujifilm X-E2S, while the 5DS R does not have a direct predecessor. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official
Canon and Fujifilm websites.

Review summary: Canon 5DS R vs Fujifilm X-E3

So what is the bottom line? Is there a clear favorite between the Canon 5DS R and the Fujifilm X-E3? Which camera is better? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (76 percent cheaper at launch).

More modern: Reflects 2 years and 7 months of technical progress since the 5DS R launch.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the 5DS R emerges as the winner of the contest (16 : 13 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges
from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape shooter. Hence, the decision which camera
is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

5DS R 16:13 X-E3

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon 5DS R and the Fujifilm X-E3 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest
Best DSLR Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the 5DS R or the X-E3. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews: Canon 5DS R vs Fujifilm X-E3

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, and photographyblog). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge,
reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.